Classic Big East: Donyell Marshall Sets the Single-Game Big East Tournament Scoring Record

Classic Big East is BECB's whimsical journey through the time fog to recapture memorable moments from the conference's past. Just think of this as your Big East oldies station.

Former UConn Husky and longtime NBA player Donyell Marshall is the subject of the first Classic Big East basketball post. The 1993-94 unanimous pick for Big East player of the Year set the scoring record for a single-game in the Big East Basketball Tournament in 1994 against the St. John’s Red Storm né Redmen with 42 points (this record still stands). It was the second time that season Marshall victimized St. John’s to the tune of 42 points. 

At Madison Square Garden on January 15, 1994, Marshall scored 42 points in an 85-81 win over St. John’s. Marshall made 11/19 field goals and was an outstanding 20/20 from the free throw line. He also had 18 rebounds in the game. 

Once again playing at MSG for the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament on March 11, Marshall put up 42 on St. John’s. In thirty-five minutes of play, Marshall pulled down nine boards and scored on 15/19 field goals and all 10 of his free throws. The 97-77 victory in the game was third win over St. John’s on the season for UConn. 

As in the first Classic Big East post, we turn to the venerable William N. Wallace to set the mood from Marshall’s record-setting Big East Tournament game. 

Connecticut's nonpareil smashed the Big East tournament scoring record yesterday with 42 points against St. John's, a virtuoso performance at Madison Square Garden that came one day after he received his plaque as the conference's premier offensive and defensive player by vote of the coaches.

Marshall broke Boston College's Dana Barros’ record of 38 points with a 360-degree dunk at the end of a breakaway following a steal. That’s putting the emphasis on breaking a record. 

Ultimately, Connecticut would disappoint that season. The #1 seeded Huskies lost in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament to Providence, the team that eventually won the tournament. UConn was given a #2 seed for the NCAA tournament and beat Rider 64-46 and George Washington 75-63 before falling to Florida 69-60 in the Sweet Sixteen. However, that 1994 appearance would propel the Huskies to further tournament success which culminated in the 1999 national title.